South Korean tourism spending on accommodation in Vietnam surged to 21 percent of total expenditure in the first half of 2024, representing a jump of over 60 percent from the previous year, according to the Visa Consulting and Analytics team.
Vietnam continues to be a preferred travel destination for Koreans, the team’s analysis stressed, affirming that the data showed a significant rise in accommodation spending by South Korean tourists in the first half of 2024, reinforcing Việt Nam's appeal for resort vacations.
In the latest analysis, Visa Consulting and Analytics team informed that spending on dining, the top category in the first half of 2024, accounted for 17 percent of total expenditure, highlighting Vietnam's renown for culinary tourism.
Visa has enhanced Vietnam's booming culinary scene by offering seamless digital payments through its partnership with the Michelin Guide in the past two years, providing diners and restaurant owners with top-notch dining experiences.
Additionally, there was a marked increase in contactless payment usage in Vietnam’s popular travel destinations, from 15 percent to 33 percent.
According to Visa’s Green Shoots Radar Survey, travel among Koreans has revived over the past year, with 37 percent traveling for leisure or work, up from 23 percent the previous year.
The survey ranks Vietnam as the second most visited destination at about 16 percent by Korean travelers, trailing only Japan, which is 54 percent, and tied with Australia at 16 percent.
According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, South Korea was the largest source market of tourists in the first three months of 2024, with more than 1.2 million arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent.
Notably, Vietnam ranked first among the most favorable foreign destinations for Korean visitors during the summer holiday season of 2024, forming 13.7 percent of inbound tourists.
Đà Nẵng, HCM City, and Hà Nội remained at the top of the spending list, with approximately 25 percent, 15 percent, and 10 percent of total expenditure, respectively. Emerging hotspots like Nha Trang, Đà Lạt, and Phú Quốc saw substantial spending growth, up by approximately 90 percent, 150 percent, and 160 percent, respectively.
Visa's analysis underscores the enduring allure of Vietnam for Korean travelers, with a marked shift towards accommodation spending. The rise of cities like Nha Trang, Đà Lạt, and Phú Quốc, coupled with the growing trend of contactless payments, signifies a promising future for Vietnam’s travel and tourism industry.
Vietnam's tourism sector welcomed over 8.8 million international visitors in the first half of 2024, marking a nearly 60 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
For the full year, Vietnam aims to attract 17 to 18 million foreign visitors and 110 million domestic visitors, generating VNĐ840 trillion (US$34.2 billion) in revenue, an 11 percent increase from 2019.
To attract high-spending, long-term tourists, Vietnam is enhancing its premium tourism sector by improving high-quality services and increasing the number of 4 and 5-star hotels, luxury shopping malls, recreational spots, and event venues.
An example of this strategy is Korea's Lotte Duty Free, whose expansion in Vietnam led to a 351 percent sales surge in 2023, with Korean tourists making up about 60 percent of the sales.
(VNS)
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